Science says happier people have these 9 things in common

REUTERS/Sean Yong

Take charge of your mental health.

Everybody wants to be happy.

That's why the science of happiness has gained more attention in recent years -researchers have started to produce reports on $4, and $4, which focuses on what makes $4 has skyrocketed in popularity.

At this point, we actually know a fair amount about how certain behaviors, attitudes, and choices relate to happiness, though most research on the topic can only find correlations.

Researchers think that roughly $4 is under our own control; the rest is determined by genetics and external factors. That means there's a lot we can do to control our own happiness.

Here are nine happiness-promoting behaviors backed by science.